Base plate for rail joints



' Jul 1 1924. 1,499,324

F. E. ABBOTT BASE PLATE FOR RAIL JOINTS Filed Nov. 26, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1:

Jul 1 1924. 1,499,324

' F. E. ABBOTT BASE PLATE FOR RAIL JOINTS il 26, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QZ'M @4264; 3551- 34 1 014401 ream NT OFFIO if;

FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ELSSEGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BETHLEHEM: STEEL COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed November 26, 1920.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK IN E. ABBOTT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Base Plates for Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to base plates or bridge plates particularly adapted for rail joints, and is designed to produce an improved plate possessing valuable features of reinforcement against vertical stresses. An important purpose and object of my present improvement is to reinforce the base plate immediately beneath the meeting rail ends, so as to materially contribute to the support of the rails at the rail joint in co operation with the usual splicebars, and moreover, in combination with the splicebars to produce a supporting arrangement for the rail ends having further important advantages from the standpoint of installation.

An important feature of my present invention consists in the provision of a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib or ribs upon the under side of the portion of the plate beneath the rail, and preferably ar- 30 ranged centrally to underlie the rail ends beneath the web portions thereof, the re inforcing rib being of a length approximately that of the standard spacing. between the ties so as to be positioned therebetween. The provision of the reinforcing rib, in accordance with my invention, may be accom plished in the rolling of the bar or plate from which the base plates are severed to produce an integral reinforcing rib, or as will be readily understood, the ribs may be formed by welding or otherwise securing additional metal to the underside of the plates to give additional beam-depth of metal for addingresistance to vertical stresses. By the employment of my improved type of reinforced plate in a rail oint structurethe strength affordedby the reinforcing rib in many cases permits of employing the flange less or fish-plate type of splice-bars and affording a joint structure of adequate strength. This latter arrangement is advantageous in that it allows for variation in the position of the rail ends relative to the plate, allowing for shifting of the line of separation between the rails longitudi- Serial No. 426,427.

nally, without disturbing the plates. This arrangement readily accommodates for the shifting of the rail ends in the relaying of track, and, furthermore, permits of employ ing upturned rail aligning lugs on the plate without subjecting the base plates to longi tudinal stresses under creeping action of the rails which stresses would tend to disturb the plate, ties and fastenings.

My invention will be understood erenceto the drawings herewith, in which the reference numerals of the description are applied to the corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through a rail joint embodying a base plate made in accordance with my present inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rail joint illustrating my improved base plate embodied therein.

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation illustrating my improved base plate having the reinforcing rib.

Fig. f is a top plan view. thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively top plan and side elcvational views of the completely rolled bar or blank from which the base plates are severed, and illustrating the manner in which the reinforcing ribs are rolled thereon. i

Fig. 7 is a sectional View corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating a suitable modifica- 'tion employing a plurality of base reinforcing ribs.

In the figures are shown the usual ele ments of the track structure comprising the rail joint, that is 1, 1, are the spaced ties, 2, 2, the rails and 3, 3, the splice-bars, secured in position by the usual bolts, nuts and nut-locks 4, 5 and 6. 8 is the base plate interposed between the rail ends and the ties and of sufficient length to bridge the space between the ties and to bear thereon at its end portions. The base plate, as shown may by refders to act as rail guides to preserve the alignment and proper assembled relation of the plate and rail.

In accordance with my present invention, I further provide the base plate with a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib 12 depending from the under side of the base plate beneath the rails and preferably of a length corresponding to the normal spacing of the ties as indicated. As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, a single and centrally located reinforcing rib 12 may be provided directly to underlie the web of the rail. This reinforcing rib may desirably be formed as an integral part of the base plate during the rolling operation by initially rolling a continuous rib in the blank from which the plates are made and in the final passes rolling out portions of the ribto leave the reinforcing ribs of the desired length and spacing. In rolling the ribs the end portions thereof are desirably tapered or curved to converge with the bottom surface of the plate as illustrated. As will be understood the cross sectional area and contour of the reinforcing rib 12 is governed by the degree of reinforcing effect desired and a typical cross section is illustrated in Fig. 1, which is of a size and form capable of being rolled as an integral part of the plate in the manner described.

In my improved design of bridge plate as shown,the presence of the reinforcing rib provides for materially strengthening the plate against vertical stresses as imposed by the passing of rolling stock over the joint, the rib in the specific construction shown cooperating in reinforcing the plate with the: arched flanges 9 to give a substantial degree of support immediately at the rail joint where most required. The reinforcing plate of my improved design in providing the substantial degree of support for the meeting rail ends, permits of employing therewith splice-bars of the simple or fish plate type in producing a joint structure of ample supporting strength to resist the stresses to which it is subjected. The rail joint structure thus provided is advantageous in that it permits of the use of the upturned gauge or alignment lugs 10 on the base plate without interference to the specific location of the splice-bars as a result of which the location of the splice-bar considered longitudinally may be shifted in the relaying of track without interference to the joint plate installation While I have described an approved and desirable embodiment of the features of my invention in Figs. 1 to 6, it will be understood that modifications in the former arrangement may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims. As an illustration thereof, I have shown in Fig. 7 a simple modification in the joint plate structure wherein there is provided a plurality of depending reinforcing ribs. 12. In the specific modification shown, two of the reinforcing ribs 12 are provided extending longitudinally and corresponding to the central rib of Fig. 1 in general form and length, the ribs in this instance being equidistantly spaced with relation to the central longitudinal axis of the plate, and approximately underlying the splice-bars 3, thereby being positioned to best cooperate with the splicebars in supporting the rail joint.

While it will be understood that my improved arrangement of reinforcing rib may be incorporated with base plates of varied construction and form, in its preferred form my improved feature of reinforcement is embodied in a plate of the type illustrated, having the upturned side reinforcing flanges 9. 'As a result of its embodiment in a plate of this character, the metal of the reinforcing rib is positioned at the opposite side of the neutral axis of the plate from that of the metal of the flanges 9, with the result that maximum strength and stiffness is .obtained in proportion to the metal employed. A further advantage incident to my improved rail joint structure as described, wherein a substantial degree of supnort is afforded by the joint plate, is that a lighter cross section of splice-bars may be used, and in consequence there is less interference with the wave motion of the rail than that present in the ordinary joint, wherein substantially the entire support at the joint is afforded by the splice-bars.

Having described my invention, I claim:

The combination in a rail oint of the two rails having their ends arranged adjacent and splice-bars secured to said two rail ends and a rail joint plate positioned beneath the meeting rail ends, said plate being provided with upturned marginal side'flanges and a centrally longitudinally extending reinforcing rib depending from its under surface directly beneath the rail web and of a length corresponding to the normal spacing between ties and said plate being provided at its ends with bearing portions adapted to rest upon supporting ties, and provided at its extremities with upturned aligning lugs adapted to engage the opposite sides of the rail flanges, and each of said splice-bars be ing formed to be nonprojecting beyond the outer marginal edges of the rail flange in position of non-engagement with the aligning lugs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT. 

